[CAUT] NASM/NASD inspections

[Shelley]

My story at North Park University is much the same as Israel's.  We were put
on probation in 1998, and it was at that time they 'popped' for Dampp Chaser
systems in all of the studio's. We have also gotten grants (Wurlitzer
Foundation and private) for improvements for all of the Steinway's and have
replaced all of the actions over the last 8 years. We have restrung several
with new pin blocks. That seemed to do the trick.  We are only just now
investing in some new practice room pianos (Heinzmans, which the students
love.)  Cant blame em.  The other options are 1950 Wurlitzers and Everett
and Baldwin Hmltons all old and awful.  Oh yeah and there is a Steinway 40
(oh joy).
My poor assistants!!

Anyway, no problem with that accreditation, relax.  It just might be some
impetus to get some repair money!

Shelley Byrd Anderson
North Park University
Chicago


On 1/30/09 9:21 AM, "Israel Stein" <custos3 at comcast.net> wrote:

> 
>> Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:12:36 -0600 Paul T Williams
>> <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi All,
>> 
>> We are having the NASM/NASD accredidation "inspections" in a couple weeks.
>>  What have you all found that they "inspect" on the piano end of it?  Our
>> building is going haywire on humidity(dangerously dry!) and I'm finding
>> that pianos I just tuned a few weeks ago are wildly wacky and can in no
>> way tune them all...!  Do they inspect practice pianos....or should I only
>> dust them off and make sure the faculty and performance pianos are the
>> ones up to snuff?  How about the harpsichords and forte pianos?  (they
>> only stay in tune for a couple of days anyway...)?????????????????
>> 
>> Thanks for the input.  I've never gone through this before..
>> 
>> Paul T. Williams RPT
>> UNL School of Music
>>   
> Paul,
> 
> Sometime in the 90's (some years years before I came to work at San
> Francisco State), their School of music was put on probation due to the
> condition of their practice room pianos. They were being regularly
> serviced by a staff technician, but they were judged to be too old and
> worn. Considering that they were Hamiltons, Everetts and Wurlitzers
> purchased between 1955 and 1970, I would say that the accrediting agency
> was justified in its actions. The school had to embark on a program of
> upgrading its practice piano inventory (they bought a bunch of Yamaha
> P-22s) - and got off probation some years later. So my feeling is that
> unless the pianos are falling apart (like ours were - some of them are
> still kicking around the School of Theater Arts and I get to tune them
> every year or two, woopeee!!!...), you don't have much to worry about...
> 
> Israel Stein
>